EGCC president should have wide experience, forum participants say

YOUNGSTOWN

The new president of Eastern Gateway Community College should be someone with a community-college background who has experience working across various locations and diverse cultures.

That was some of the input offered Thursday by the five people — all college employees — who attended a public forum designed to gather information that will be used to develop the presidential profile.

President Laura Meeks announced earlier this year that she would retire in July 2015. She’s been president of, first, Jefferson Community College, which expanded in 2009 to include Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties to become Eastern Gateway, for 15 years.

“We’ve got a big job ahead of us,” John T. Gilmore, trustee chairman who also serves on the search committee, said during the forum at First Presbyterian Church.

He said he’s amazed at what the college has accomplished in the past four years.

Read the complete story in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.